SERENE

HER

Linda was sitting on her long-arm chair. The birds chirping no more seemed like music to her.

The beautiful sunset she often used to adore, had become a menacing splash of orange and red. The beach in front of her was no longer her favorite place to visit.

She was dreading life. She was dreading the living. She was dreading the very reason she was born in the first place. A lump of meat waiting to be exterminated somehow.

It was about 3 months ago that her doctor confronted her about her leukemia. Stage 3.

“You can either mourn that you have only a little time left or you can live life to the fullest knowing that these are rather unfortunately your last moments”, the doctor had told her.

‘It can be cured, right?”

“I’m afraid that time is long gone”

Linda didn’t cry. There was no point in crying.

She was suddenly woken up to the present by her phone ringing. She picked up. It was her husband, Riley.

“Hello?”

“You have to come to Saint Cox hospital right now. Lucy had an accident. She needs blood. You two are the same, right?”

Linda froze.

Her daughter was AB-ve.

So was she.

Difference?

She had stage 3 leukemia.

She did have a hard time concealing her condition.

Her regular checkups were hidden by an array of shopping, late night works and parties.

Well, Riley was a loving husband. He never doubted his other half. He had once complimented her with a kiss for her new hairdo, when it was actually a wig, she had used to hide her hair loss.

“Linda? Linda?!”

She didn’t answer.

“You better get here quickly.”

He hung up.

She tried to stand up. She fell.

Her legs could not carry her or rather the weight of her emotions. Her turmoil.

Her helplessness.

She let out a silent cry, clutching the phone in her arms.

She stayed like that for probably half an hour.

And she began dialing some numbers.

**********************

“Why is it taking her so long?”

Riley was invariably furious. Inside it was his little pumpkin, fighting to live and out there was her mother who is late at a time like this.

He dialed her up again.

She didn’t pick up.

“Linda..”
He began crying. For the first time in his entire life he hated her. He hated his cheerful, loving wife.

“Umm… are you Riley Davis?”

He looked up to see a young man, about 25. He stared at him. Questionably.

“I am Eric. I am AB-ve. I can help.”

Riley didn’t know what was happening. Just then Eric went to the doctor and talked something.

He was taken inside by the doctor. Riley still did not understand what was happening.

About an hour passed by.

“Your daughter is stable now. No need to worry.”

“Th..Thank you….. Doctor.”

The doctor nodded and went away.
Just then, Eric came out. He sat beside Riley and smiled at him.

“You have a great wife.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, even in her condition she somehow managed to contact me. I was her junior. Back in school.”

Riley shifted and then caught on the point.

“Condition? What condition?”

“Wait… she didn’t… oh my god! You never knew?”

Riley was getting impatient.

“What?! Tell me…”

“She has leukemia. Stage 3. I am surprised she never told you. Curious as to how she managed keep it from you.”

Riley was falling apart.
Her.
The one woman he ever loved.
Not her.
Why her?
Why did it had to be her?

***********************

Riley barged in to his house like a madman. He wanted to see her. Take her in his arms. Cuddle her as long as she was with him. Not part from her.

“Linda…!”

No answer.

“Linda…!”

Silence.

She was in the bathroom.

Unconscious.

No.

Lifeless.

Riley was quivering. He held her in his arms. Touched her forehead with his. And cried.

“I love you….” came out as a low cry from his lips.

______

I wrote this when I was in the first year of college... *internal cringe*
Hope you liked it :)